§ Mr. MUFFasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount to be disbursed during the current financial year under the De-rating Act in the relief of rates; and what is the estimated income from the petrol tax to meet such expenditure?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENThe estimates for grants to rating authorities in the current financial year amounted to £13,200,000. This is of course only half a year's expenditure, the scheme having come into force on 1st October, 1929. In addition there is a sum of £2,570,000 charged to the Rating Relief Suspense Account in respect of the acceleration of agricultural de-rating. I see no reason to sup- 1205W pose that the expenditure will differ widely from these figures. The estimated revenue, from the Petrol Duty included in the Budget was £15,700,000.